Overcrowding in prisons is leading to intimidation and violence according to the Prison Officers Association.
The association's annual conference in Sligo today will hear how prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on floors because of increased numbers in the system.
Jim Mitchell, Deputy General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said the situation is leading to an increase in violence in Ireland’s prisons.
He said officers in Mountjoy are facing some of the toughest working conditions.
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A woman has died in clashes between protesters and security forces in Venezuela as political unrest continues in the South American country.
Dozens of people were injured in the latest day of protest in the country.
However, those expecting the population to answer opposition leader Juan Guiado’s call for the “largest march” in the country’s history were largely disappointed.
He has now called for an escalating series of strikes in a bid to force President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power.
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The Taoiseach has claimed a protest at a Fine Gael meeting in Cork last night was “profoundly undemocratic.”
A number of protestors interrupted a town hall meeting being held by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The group called the Connolly Youth Movement disrupted the meeting to protest homelessness and austerity.
They insisted they have a right to ‘question and challenge’ a party they believe has introduced “austerity policy after austerity policy.’
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Police investigating the murder of Lyra McKee in Derry say that witnesses will be offered anonymity if they are called to give evidence in court.
The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead while covering riots in Derry on the 18th of April.
A group calling itself the New IRA has said it was responsible.
A reward of up to £10,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Following talks with the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, the PSNI has now confirmed that anyone who comes forward will be offered anonymity.
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There are calls for a criminal investigation into the intelligence leak that cost the UK Defence Secretary his job.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May sacked Gavin Williamson from his post over claims he leaked information from a National Security Council meeting.
Mr Williamson has denied any involvement – insisting he has been “completely and utterly screwed” and claiming the dismissal was politically motivated.
Mrs May has said the matter is now closed – but political opponents want to know if he breached the Official Secrets Act.
